Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Speaks at JMU

Former United States Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker spoke about U.S. involvement in Iraq and the future of the Middle East country Thursday, Dec. 2, at James Madison University.

Crocker made his presentation, "Iraq: The Way Forward," to more than 300 students, faculty, staff and community members in the Festival Conference and Student Center ballroom. 

Crocker discussed the challenges facing the United States and Iraq as the United States works to shift security operations to Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. Although President Obama declared an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq on Aug. 31, the United States still has more than 50,000 troops stationed in the country. 

In addition to Iraq, Crocker has served as ambassador to a number of countries of significant strategic interest to the United States, including Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria and Pakistan. In September 2004, President George W. Bush promoted Crocker to career ambassador, the foreign service equivalent of a four-star officer. Currently, Crocker is the dean of the school of government and public service at Texas A&M University.

The talk was hosted by JMU's College of Integrated Science and Technology, School of Public and International Affairs, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Public Service.